Tag / A Meaningful Life

by Cheryl Batavia

Approaching Age 77: Reflections on the Meaning of Life

Life is a gift. It is up to us to make it meaningful. Photo by Renee Asmussen from Pexels.

What is a Meaningful Life?

The answer to this essential question is unique to each person. Our values may be fairly simple and straightforward, but the details, the way values are lived, are complex and infinitely varied!

Approaching my seventy-seventh birthday next month, I wrote poems about the values that are most meaningful to me. Reaffirming my values was a valuable exercise for me. I try, with varying degrees of success or failure, to live by these values; the details are different every day!

A Meaningful Life

A circular view of the rainbow. Photo by Jakob Owens from Unsplash.

Integrity

Following conscience,

an ethical path through life…

Finding peace of mind.

One Human Family. Photo by Diva Plavalaguna from Pexels.

Empathy

Loving our neighbors.

Living by the Golden Rule…

one human family.

Exploring our world. Photo of dolphins by James Dimas from Unsplash.

Mindfulness

Exploring our world.

Gratitude for life’s blessings…

at one with nature.

Working to make Earth a better place. Photo of a honeybee by Darius Cotoi from Unsplash.

Purpose

Potential fulfilled.

Making Earth a better place…

a meaningful life.

Experience shared. Photo by Vitaly Gariev from Unsplash

Legacy

Experience shared

with future generations,

Encouraging words.

Copyright© 2026 by Cheryl Batavia

One Earth…One Human Family! Photo by NASA from Pexels/Pixabay.